" said the boy
cautiously.

"Just as you like. Are you afraid I won't pay you."

"I dunno. I was served that way once."

"How was it?"

"I was carryin' a bag--a thunderin' big bag it was, too--for a man to
this very hotel. I'd carried it about a mile; when we got there he took
it and was goin' in without payin' me.

"'Look here, boss,' I says, 'you haven't paid me.'

"'Yes, I did,' he says. 'I paid you when you took the bag.'

"Then I knew he was a beat, and I made a fuss, I tell you, and follered
him into the hotel.

"'What's the matter?' asked one of the hotel men, comin' forrard.

"'This boy wants me to pay him twice,' he says.

"Of course, the hotel people took up for the man and kicked me out of
the hotel. I didn't blame them so much, for who'd think of a gentleman
cheatin' a poor boy?"

"That was pretty hard on you," said Robert in a tone of sympathy. "He
must have been a mean man."

"Mean? I guess he was. But I got even with him, and I didn't wait long
neither."

"How was that?"

"I got an egg and I laid for him. Toward night he come out, all dressed
up like as if he was goin' to the theayter. I follered him, and when I
got a good chance I just hove it at him. I hit him just in his bosom,
and the egg was spattered over his face and clothes. He gave a yell and
then I dodged round the corner. Oh, it was rich to see how he looked! I
guess he'd better have paid me."

Robert could not help laughing, and did not find it in his heart to
blame the boy who had chosen this summary way to redress his
grievances.

"I hope," he said, "you haven't got any eggs with you now."

"Why, ain't you goin' to pay me?"

"Oh, yes, I mean to pay you. I wouldn't cheat a poor boy. I'm a poor boy
myself."

His guide looked at him in surprise.

"You a poor boy, with them clo'es?" he repeated. "If you was a poor boy
you wouldn't pay me for carryin' your baggage."

"But would carry it myself?"

"Yes."

"So I would, but I wanted somebody to guide me to the hotel. I am
traveling for a gentleman that pays the bills."

"Oh, cricky! ain't that jolly? Wouldn't he like me to travel for him?"

"I guess not," said Robert, laughing.

"If he should, just give a feller a chance."

"I might, if I knew your name and where you live."

"I left my cardcase at home on the planner, along with my jewelry, but
my name's Michael Burke. The boys call me Mike. I live at the Newsboys'
Lodge, when I'm at home."

"All right, Mike;